Home buyers have an underlying concern about EMF
As environmental professionals, we have followed the EMF issue closely for 12 years, and are convinced
of its validity, despite the absence of formal exposure limitations. What is important here is the attitude of the
public. Many buyers already recognize EMF as an issue of concern, especially those people who would be interested
in a “green” home, or a “healthy” home. From this standpoint, it is irrelevant that the research has not progressed
to the point of mandating formal standards. The perception of the public that EMF is a real issue is the operative
factor.
Creation of a Low-EMF home is not expensive
The design concepts that allow creation of a low-EMF home are firmly established, and based upon the
three fundamental principles of field reduction: (1) distance, (2) natural field cancellation, and (3) shielding.
For non-custom production homes, a single plan review process will define the procedures for all units, and it then
becomes a simple matter of adherence to design and the exercise of best practices in wiring installation. Expensive
magnetic shielding can almost always be avoided.
Results are dramatic and verifiable
Magnetic and electric field levels are often lower by at least a factor of 10. Sometimes a builder gets
lucky and does many things right, but sometimes egregious field problems are built right into the house, requiring
extensive and expensive corrections. Low-EMF practices produce uniformly good results. We can independently evaluate
each home built, and issue a certification that low-EMF design procedures were followed, and that field levels are
within recommended precautionary guidelines.
Offering a Low-EMF home provides an additional selling point
Considering the market that you are targeting, incorporation of the low-EMF feature would
offer a strong additional selling point. This is, in part, because it would round out the other environmental health
issues addressed in the product design, and reflect a comprehensive approach that many buyers would recognize and
appreciate. In addition, most other green builders have not adopted the concept except on an individual client and individual home basis, so in that sense your product offering would have a unique advantage.
